The synergistic effects of dietary fish oil and vitamin E supplementation on Sudan desert Buck semen quality and reproductive performance

Goats are essential for income generation and food security, particularly in arid regions where the Sudan desert buck is well adapted. Environmental stressors can negatively affect reproductive performance, reducing semen quality and fertility. This study investigated whether dietary supplementation with fish oil and Vitamin E could potentially enhance reproductive efficiency in Sudan desert bucks. Twelve sexually mature bucks were randomly assigned to four groups and fed for five weeks: a control group receiving the basal diet only; a fish oil group (FO) supplemented with 2.5% fish oil of dry matter intake; a Vitamin E group (E) supplemented with 300 mg Vitamin E/kg dry matter (~ 900 IU/day; ~12 mg/kg body weight/day); and a combined fish oil and Vitamin E group (FOE) receiving both 2.5% fish oil and 300 mg Vitamin E/kg dry matter. Weekly semen samples were collected and analyzed for volume, concentration, motility, viability, and morphology. Fertility was assessed through natural mating with fifteen non-pregnant does, with pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound and abdominal palpation. Supplementation significantly improved body weight (p < 0.05) and semen quality parameters (p = 0.001), with the most pronounced effects observed in the FOE group. Fertility outcomes showed a trend toward higher conception and kidding rates in supplemented groups, particularly FOE, but due to the small sample size and mating design, these results are exploratory. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with fish oil and Vitamin E, particularly in combination, may offer a practical strategy to enhance semen quality and potentially support reproductive performance in Sudan desert bucks.